A poll taken by Phi Delta Kappa International, an association of education professionals, and Gallup shows that most Americans favor serveral education reforms backed by the Obama administration, including teacher merit pay and charter schools. Most Americans also favor a single national test for students verses separate state tests because they favor the ability to set the same standard for all schools. Support for No Child Left Behind (NCLB) continues to decline, however, despite the support for nationwide annual testing (which is an element of NCLB).

Read more »

I never studied abroad but I always wish I had. Experiencing different cultures and people can really help you grow. Students learn to respect worlds outside of their own and even learn another language! What an opportunity! The AFS website directs students in how to become an exchange student and American families in how to become host families. My parents hosted a high school student from the Netherlands a few years ago and felt so lucky that they could help this young man in his quest to study in the U.S. It can be a wonderful experience for the host family and for the student as they learn about one another and their way of life.

I found this list on the Highland Park website very helpful for students at the high school level. It is so important for high school students to take advantage of all opportunities at their school, including advanced courses and clubs and other extracurricular activities. They must also plan for their future without getting overwhelmed, which can be hard to do!

California test scores are proving once again a discrepancy between the success of white and Asian students and their black and hispanic counterparts. According to this article, it would take over 100 years to close the achievement gap between white students and black and hispanic students based on the current rate of improvement. California's state Superintendent calls it a civil rights issue. It's hard not to agree with him. Something has got to change. But, in a state that is already in a huge budget crisis, will this be possible? Education officials say new teachers need to be trained in cultural diversity and the issues of low-performing students. Will this training be enough, however, if teachers at the same time are going to be faced with larger class sizes, a shortened academic year and a lack of funds for materials?

This article is from The Autism News and is geared towards helping parents understand and prepare special needs children for their first day of school. Parents are given tips for helping children dealing with all different issues, including shyness, stress from family issues, anxiety, impulsivity, and even being the new kid at school. Parents of children with a learning, physical, or mental health difference are also addressed. What I couldn't help thinking was that this article could also be helpful to teachers since the parents are not actually the ones spending time with the kids while they are at school. Parents drop their children at the door, and it is the teachers who must take over from there and help students adjust to a new year at school. As a teacher I remember having to remind myself every day that not all children come to school with the same attitude and preparation and that it is a teacher's job to help make them feel comfortable within the learning environment so that they can achieve success.

I wanted to share this video because I thought it was very cute. In this, an 11 year old elementary school student interviews the President about topics such as school lunches, sports, and bullying. You can tell what is important to a young boy!

Read more »

Today I was reading an archived article from Teacher Magazine about getting ready for the new school year since the first school day is just around the corner here in Texas. In this article, "The Mentor," Coleen Armstrong, a former teacher and TV talk show host and author answers teachers' questions about preparing for a new school year. One teacher wanted to know about how to give kids a sense of ownership in his/her U.S. History classroom. My interest really peeked here since I taught high school Social Studies for six years.

Read more »